For Midwesterners who grew up with a rotating collection of empty glass Oberweis milk jugs in their pantries, the news that Oberweis declared bankruptcy last year was a punch in the gut. The iconic ice cream parlor and dairy store is a beloved locale for nights spent chatting on a bench outside the shop over melting cones and splitting massive shakes with your crush at the checkers tables. But, luckily, this was not goodbye. Private equity firm Hoffmann Family of Companies revived the 74-year-old brand after acquiring it for a whopping $21.25 million at auction last summer.
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The new owner plans to open a dozen new locations throughout Illinois, Missouri and Florida in the next two years. The expansion kicks off with the debut of the first new Oberweis location in five years, set to open at 510 Winnetka Avenue on the North Shore later this month. The new shop will pay homage to iconic Oberweis signatures—red and white interiors, checkerboard tables and the mouthwatering smell of fresh waffle cones—with a modernized twist on classic ice cream parlors.
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“We wanted to bring a fresh perspective to the Oberweis brand while staying true to what our guests know and love,” says Adam Kraber, President and CEO of Hoffmann Oberweis Dairy. “We’re reintroducing beloved elements while also adding exciting new touches, including a full-service ice cream counter, a waffle cone installation and elegant black and gold accents that give the space a refined, modern feel… Our new scoop shop will be a welcoming space for families and individuals of all ages to enjoy premium ice cream and take a joyful pause in their day.”
The opening coincides with Oberweis’ inaugural season-long Scoop Stakes. Each month, one person from each Midwest store will be awarded a year’s worth of ice cream, with one winner claiming the Golden Cone, a grand prize of 100 scoops. For those with kiddos, head to Oberweis on Mondays through Labor Day as the first 20 children under 10 years old get a free scoop with an adult purchase.